Are You a Sheep or a Wolf? Empowering Self and Others

This weeks radio show was full of valuable information, some of which I have synopsized here.

The Sheepdog Analogy is used primarily in the law enforcement and military community and was coined by retired Lt. Col. David Grossman.

Sheepdogs (e.g., police officers) protect the sheep (e.g., civilians and children), who are very gentle, from the wolves (e.g., or predators, criminals and sex offenders, etc.) that hide among the sheep just waiting for an opportunity to attack. Grossman says, “If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath–a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path.”

A few quick ideas to keep you safe:

keep your valuables separately (ie eggs in different baskets), some things in your purse, some in your pockets etc.

program your GSP to an address close to your home, but not your exact address in case your car gets broken into

don’t tell Facebook when your family is going away, you can tell them when you are back

make sure websites where you are putting your credit card number in are secure sites, they should have the “S” after the http in the url. i.e. https//

install outdoor motion lights (cheaper, but less fun than getting a dog!)

ensure your side garage door is locked

only wear one ear bud when running, riding, walking so your can hear what’s going on around you

present yourself in a confident manner and posture, if you act afraid you are more likely to be a good target for crime

create strong algorithms as passwords

Pam Steciuk shared some of her experiences as a 911 operator and some tips that she uses to reduce stress. Carol Fredrickson, co-founder of http://www.violence-free.com talked about empowerment, belly-sirens and instincts.

Stephanie Staples, CSP* is the author of When Enlightening Strikes – Creating a Mindset for Uncommon Success and an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker. She empowers audiences & clients across North America to bring their ‘A’ game to work and to life. Stephanie has a special interest in working with and empowering nurses and healthcare providers. She happily calls Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada home. You can get loads of complimentary resources to help with issues such as work/life balance, wellness, stress management and happiness in general, as well as find out more information about her coaching and speaking services at http://www.YourLifeUnlimited.ca.

* Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), conferred by the National Speakers Association is the speaking profession’s international measure of professional platform proficiency. Less than 10 percent of speakers have earned this credential and are recognized as some of the best in their fields. Stephanie was one of only five professional speakers in Canada (and the only woman) to attain this designation in 2013.